However, ahead of United’s Premier League encounter at Sunderland on Sunday, Van Gaal has cautioned against expecting him to win the league in his first campaign in charge.

Asked whether he should be judged in his second season as United manager rather than his first – as Jose Mourinho demanded at Chelsea – Van Gaal said: “That is always the case. What I have experienced is that I was champion in Barcelona and in Germany, so it is possible but it is very difficult. When I got to Bayern Munich the [squad] selection was not stable. What we did was a miracle. Now here the selection is not in balance. There are five No 9s and six No 10s and so on. And we don’t have defenders.”

Questioned further as to whether it would be a miracle to win the league this season, Van Gaal said: “Yes I think so. It is always possible but it shall be very difficult.”

Van Gaal is dealing with an injury crisis with United expected to confirm the extent of the ankle problems suffered by Ander Herrera and Marouane Fellaini, who both had scans on Saturday. New signing Marcos Rojo is ineligible as he has not yet been granted a work permit.